Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
[4D1_F3] Eurostat - Labour market and skills
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
17 November 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
17 November 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
17 November 2025
3.1. Data description
The "Quality of employment" framework developed under the lead of UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) represents a neutral and comprehensive approach to assess quality of employment in its multiple facets. It defines 68 indicators on seven dimensions that address employment quality from the perspective of the employed person. Its design also facilitates international comparison. For statistical institutes, researchers and policy users looking to build and analyse datasets using these indicators, the framework is explained in a Handbook on measuring quality of employment published by UNECE. Using the UNECE framework, Eurostat has compiled data on employment quality for the EU countries that is provided in the Eurostat database.
LFS in one of the sources which provides data for filling some of the indicators. The section 'Quality of employment' reports annual results from the EU-LFS concerning some of those indicators.
In particular:
Long working hours in main job: percentage of employed persons usually working 49 hours or more per week;
Weekly working hours: Average number of usual weekly working hours of employed persons;
Work on weekends: Percentage of employed persons usually working at Saturday or Sunday;
Job tenure Percentage of employed persons by duration of employment with current employer by number of years;
Temporary employment agency workers: Percentage of employed persons working for a temporary work agency;
Precarious employment: Percentage of employees with a short-term contract of up to 3 months.
More information on Eurostat indicators about Quality of employment is available on the Quality of employment webpage.
General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS). Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
For a detailed description of methods and concepts used, as well as for other documents related to the EU-LFS, please consult the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data. Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data are only published once they are deemed to be sufficiently complete for all data providers contributing to the aggregate.
New data are only used to update disseminated data in the case of reported errors, or in exceptional situations, such as after new population estimates have been defined based on a population census.
The "Quality of employment" framework developed under the lead of UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) represents a neutral and comprehensive approach to assess quality of employment in its multiple facets. It defines 68 indicators on seven dimensions that address employment quality from the perspective of the employed person. Its design also facilitates international comparison. For statistical institutes, researchers and policy users looking to build and analyse datasets using these indicators, the framework is explained in a Handbook on measuring quality of employment published by UNECE. Using the UNECE framework, Eurostat has compiled data on employment quality for the EU countries that is provided in the Eurostat database.
LFS in one of the sources which provides data for filling some of the indicators. The section 'Quality of employment' reports annual results from the EU-LFS concerning some of those indicators.
In particular:
Long working hours in main job: percentage of employed persons usually working 49 hours or more per week;
Weekly working hours: Average number of usual weekly working hours of employed persons;
Work on weekends: Percentage of employed persons usually working at Saturday or Sunday;
Job tenure Percentage of employed persons by duration of employment with current employer by number of years;
Temporary employment agency workers: Percentage of employed persons working for a temporary work agency;
Precarious employment: Percentage of employees with a short-term contract of up to 3 months.
More information on Eurostat indicators about Quality of employment is available on the Quality of employment webpage.
General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS). Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
